Thit Bo Xao Dau (Vietnamese Beef and Green Bean Stirfry)

A simple and quick stir fry of beef and green beans that ends up being quite tasty.

Ingredients:
1 lb lean beef, sliced thinly across the grain (flank steak works well)
1/2 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 medium onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1 t grated ginger
1/2 C chicken stock
1/2 T soy sauce
2 T fermented black beans
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 T fish sauce (or to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
1 T vegetable oil
dried chiles to taste (optional)


 Marinade:
1 T Shaoxing rice wine
1/2 T soy sauce
2 t cornstarch

Combine the marinade ingredients, then add the beef.  I usually just let this marinate while I'm prepping the onion, garlic, and green beans.  When everything is ready heat the oil in a wok and sear off the chiles (if you're using them; they aren't authentic), then add the beef and stir fry quickly until just done.  Remove from the wok and set aside.  Add extra oil if necessary, then stir fry the onions and garlic until the onions wilt.  Add the green beans and ginger and stir fry for maybe a minute.  Add the stock, black beans, and soy sauce; bring to a simmer and cover, cooking until the green beans are done, roughly 4 minutes.  Add the fish sauce, check the seasoning, and serve with rice.